Windshield cleaner



April l0, 1928.

F. G. FOLBERTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Oct. 29. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 10, 1928. 1,665,204

F. G. FoLBl-:RTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Oct. 29. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RWE m' E eltkozneq Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK G. FOLBERTH AND WILLIAM M. FOLBERTH,

PATENT GFFICE.

F CLEVELAND, OHIO, .AS-

sIGNoRs To 'rnrco rnonncrs coRPoRATIoN, or BUFFALO, NEW Yonx, A con.

PORATION 0F NEW YORK.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

Application led October 29, 1923. Serial No. 671,493.

This invention relates to windshield cleaners, and more particularly to motor operated windshield cleaners.

An object of thel invention is the provision of a windshield cleaner motor of the general type disclosed in a prior patent to lVilliam M. Folberth, No. 1,424,890, granted August 8, 1922, (Reissue No. 15,502), having a closure plate of the motor arranged on the side of the cylinder substantially equidistant from the. ends of the cylinder and having passages arranged in said closure plate adapted to aline with conduits formedin the wall of the Vcylinder and connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder.

A further object of the invent-ion is the "provision of valve shifting mechanism of the general type disclosed in said patent in which the stem of the hand operated control valve serves as a stop to limit the movement of the'pivotcd arms forming a part of' the automatic valve mechanism which alternately connects the opposite ends of the cylinder to a source of suction or pressure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a connecting member for the pistons formed of sheet metal having. openings stamped therein forthe receptlon of gear teeth and having curved ends to engage 3o one ofthe pivoted arms of the valve shifting mechanism to operate the valve.

In/the accompanying drawings, we have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the motor cylinder with the closure plate removed,

Figure 2 is a central vertical transverse sectional View, f

IFigure 3 is a perspective view of the closure plate and valve mechanism,

Figure 4 isa central vertical longitudinal sectional View,

Figure 5 is a plan view, parts being shown in section,

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the segmental gear,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the pivoted arms of the valve shifting mechanism,

Figure 8 is a similar view of the other arm, and,

Figure 9 1s a front elevatlon of the closure plate.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a casing having heads 2 arranged on opposite ends, the heads being preferably secured to the cylinder by means of bolts 25, which are received in openings formed in enlargements 4 at the opposite ends of the cylinder. A pair of spaced pistons are' arranged within the cylinder. The pistons may bc formed of a pair of disks having a sheet 6 of rubber or other suitable packing arranged between them. The packing is preferably of larger diameter than the interior of the cylinder, forming a flange 7. The parts of the piston are secured to each other by suitable fastening element 8. The pistons are adapted to be retained in spaced relation by a connecting member 9, which is formed of sheet metal and is provided with inclined portions 10 adjacent each edge. Beyond the inclined portions, the member is provided with transverse portions 11, having openings for the receptlon of the screw 8 and the ends of the member are curled, as at 12. Intermediate the ends, the connecting member is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 13, adapted to serve as teeth to mesh with suitable gearing and transmit the movement of the pistons to a shaft.

The cylinder is provided with a relatively large opening intermediate its ends, having a flat :Face 14. A closure member 15 is adapted to be arranged over this opening, the closure member being provided with openings 16, for the reception of suitable fastening elements which are received in openings 17 in the Hat faces 14 to retain the closure member in position. The closure member is provided with an enlargement 18, on its inner face, substantially in the form of a vertical rib and a second enlargement 19 in the form of a horizontal rib. A passage 20 extends into the bottom of 'the closure member and, this passage is adapted to be connected to a source ot' differential pressure. such as the intake manifold of the engine of a motor vehicle (not shown), by means of a conduit 21. A sleeve 22 extends from the bottom of the rib 18 and this sleeve is provided with a threaded bore for the reception of a valve stem 23. Beyond the bore, and in alinement therewith, there is provided a passage 24, communicating with the inlet passage 20. The valve stem is provided With a conical face 25, forming a'valve and engaging a valve seat formed at the omt where the bore and assaffe meet. I n c D n lhe passage 24 communicates ,with a vertical passage 26 which `extends upwardly from the bottom of`the closure member and the lower end of this passage is closed by a suitable plug 27.l The upper end of the passage 26 communicates with an inwardly extending passage 28, extending through the rib 18 to the inner face of the closure plate. As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the rib isiprovided with passages 29 and .30, arranged on opposite sides of the main passage 28 and these passages in turn communicate with passages 31, formed in the closure plate and extending longitudinally of the c linder when the closure plate is in position. The ends of the passages 31 communicate with the interior of tubes or conduits 32 formed on`the interior ot the cylinder and communicating with the ends of the cylinder` through ports As shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings, the ends of the conduits 32 are provided with beveled faces 34.

, The side edges of the closure plate are similarly provided with beveled portions 35, adapted to fit over the beveled faces 34 and bring the passages 31 in alinement with the interior vof the conduits 32. By means ot this beveled arrangement, the necessity of cross drilling is eliminated and the longitudinal passages in the closure plate may be alined with the longitudinally extending ltubes or conduits.

Suitable valve mechanism controlled by the' operation of the piston is. arranged in `the cylinder to alternately connect the passages 29 and 30 to the passage 28. As shown, the closure plate is provided with an enlargement 36, arrangedabove the rib 18 and the sleeve 22. A pin 37 is mounted in this enlargement and this pin serves as a pivot :tor the valve shitting mechanism. |The valve shifting mechanism consists of a air of arms shown in detail in Figures 7- and 8 of the drawings. A substantially L- shaped arm 38 is arranged on the' pin, the

upper end of the arm being provided with an up-struck portion whichk is bent over, as

at 39. The-body portion of the'arm is provided with an opening 40 `and the portion 39 is provided with an opening 41 arranged in alinement therewith. These openings are adapted to receive the pivot pin to form a substantial support. The lower portion 42 of the arm is arranged over the sleeve 22, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and is provided with a pair of depending arms or fingers 43, adapted to engage the sides of the sleeve to limit the movement of the arm. The outer end of the arm is extended, as at 44, and is provided with an oplening 45, for the reception of a in 46. T the valve stem an 'carries a substantially cup-shaped valve 47, which is adapted to ispin forms cover the end of the passage 28 at all times and to coverthe end of one of .the passages 29, and 30 depending upon the position of the arm 38, to connect one of the latter passages t the passage 28. A suitable spring 48 is arranged on the valve stemt retain it on its seat., 'llie upper portion o the arm 38 is extended forwardly at a slight angle and is provided with a notch 49. Beneath the notched portion, there is provided an opening 50, formed by the cut-out portion 39.

The other pivotcd arm shown in detail in Figure 8 ofthe drawings, consists of a relatively ywide body portion 51, having a central opening or cut-out portion 52. This arm is provided with an angularly extended portion 53, at the top, and/the end of the angularly extending portion extends downwardly parallel to the body portion, as at 54. The downwardly extending portion 54 and the body portion are provided with openings 55 and 56`for the receptior of the pivot pin 37. As shown in Figure 2 of the drznvngs,when the arms are in assembled position, the angular portion 53 of the second arm extends through the opening `50 in the tirst arm and the depending portion 54 is arranged on the opposite side of the first arm so that the first arm is substantially embraced by the upper end of the second pending fingers 56 at its lower end and is further provided with a notch 57. A coil spring 58 is arranged between the arms, the coil spring being provided with'hooks 59 on its ends adapted to be received in the notches 2t!) and 57. As shown, in Figure 2 of the drawings, the body portion of the spring fits within the cut out portion 52 of the second arm. The fingers 56 are arranged on opposite sides of the valve stem 23 and are adapted to engage it to limit the movement of the arm, said` valve stem 23 and said sleeve 22 combining to form a stop common to both limitr fingers 43 ot' the valve carrier 28 and both limit fingers 56' of the spring positioning member 51.

The enlargement 36 is provided with a bore for the reception of a shaft 60. The inner end of this shaft is squared, as at 61, and is adapted to receive a plate 62, which is arcuate shaped and provided with teeth 63 forming a segmental gear.' The teeth 63 mesh with the teeth formed by the openings 13 in the connecting member 9. As shown, the segmental gear is provided with an arcuate slot 64 for the passage of the pivot pin 37 of the valve shifting arms. The shaft 60 is adapted to be'passed through an opening in the windshield frame, as shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings. As shown, the device is adapted to be applied transparent material, mounted in a metal frame 66.' The outer end of the shaft is adapted to -receive a resilient cleaner arm 67, having a retaining member 68 on its lower end. This retaining member is adapted to receive theV cleaner element consisting of a backing strip 69 of met-al or other rigid material and a. flexible strip 70 of rubber or Similar material, which passes over the surface of the Windshield to Vclean it. The closure plate is further provided with openings 71, adapted 'to receive bolts 72, shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawings, which pass through the frame of the windshield to retain the motor casing in position.

In operation, with the parts in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the left end of the cylinder is connect-- ed to the source of suction or pressure due to the position of the valve connecting the ends of the passages 28 and 30. The pistons are then moving toward the left. In the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the

lcurled right end 12 of the connecting member is in engagement with one of the lingers 56 formed on the valve shifting arm 51. The movement of the piston swings this arm on its pivot and when the arm reaches a position where the lower end of the spring 59 passes the center line of the pivot pin 37, the tension of the spring shifts the arms in the opposite direct-ion and moves the valve to a posltion covering the passages 28 and 29. The movement of the first arm 3S is limited by the engagement of the stops 43 with the sleeve 22 and the movement of the second arm is limited `by theengagement of the stops 56 with the valve stem 23. The operation is repeated continuously and the movement of the pistons drives the cleaner shaft 60 through .the segmental gear 62,

which meshes with the teeth in the connectving member 9. The cleaner element is thus oscillated over the surface of the Windshield. The devicemay be placed in operation or cut ofi' at any time by turning the valve stem 23 to open or close the valve 25.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A windshieldcleaner comprising a cyllinder having a relatively large opening, a

closure plate adapted to be arranged over said opening, said closure plate being bored to provide an inlet passageadapted to he connected to a source of suction or pressure, and passages connected to the opposite ends of the cyllnder, a manually controlled valve `arranged in said inlet passage, the stem of said valve extending transversely of the cylinder, valve mechanism to connect either of said passages to said inlet passage, said valve mechanism including a pair of pivoted arms, and stops formed on said arms for engaging said valve stem to limit the movement of said arms.

2. 1n a windshield cleaner, a cylinder provided with a relatively large opening intermediate its ends, the wall of the cylinder' being extended to form flat faces, conduits extending from said opening to the opposite ends of the cylinder and arranged outwardly of said faces, the ends of said conduits bemg beveled, and a closure plaie arranged over said opening, said closure plate being provided with passages alining with said conduit, and being further provided with beveled portions contacting with the beveled ends of said conduits.

3. In a windshield cleaner, a casing, an actuating member arranged in said casing, and valve mechanism controlled by the .movement of said actuating member to alternately connect said casing on opposite sides of said actuating member to a source of suction or pressure, said valve actuating mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted L- shaped arm, a valve carried by said arm, a second arm mounted on said pivot, said arms having limit parts extending adjacent each other, stop means common to both arms and related in a straddling manner to limit parts thereof, and a Spring connected to the ends of the arms on opposite sides of the pivot, said second arm being operable by said actuating member.

4. In a windshield cleaner, a casing, an actuating member arranged in said casing and valve mechanism controlled by the movement of said actuating member to alternately'connect said casing on opposite sides of said actuating member to a source of suction or pressure,said valve actuating mechanism including an arm, a valvemounted on one end of said arm, a pivot pin received in said arm intermediate the ends ot' said arm, a second arm mounted on said pivot pin, said arm being provided with a cut-out portion, and a spring having its ends connected to said armsl on opposite sides of said pivot pin, said cut out portion of said second arm receiving the body of said spring.

5. In a windshield cleaner, a cylinder having a relatively large opening formed therein intermediate its ends, a closure plate normally closing said opening. said closure plate being provided with an extension disposed Within said cylinder, said extension and said closure plate being provided with an opening transversely of said cylinder, a cleaner shaft arranged therein, a segmental gear arranged on the inner end of said shaft, a movable actuating member in said cylinder, con- -necting means between said-movable actuating member and said .segmental gear, valve actuatin G inechanism'iarranged in said c linder to alternatelyY connect'opposite s en s ef said cylinder to a source of suctionor pres sure, and` a .pivot pin mounted in v.said extension to sup ort said; valve actuating mechanism, sai segmental gear being provided with an arcuate slot'for the passage of said pivot pin.

6. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a casing having an opening, a closure for the 4opening' having a valve seat with lpassages opening therethrough from a source of suction and .from the op o'- site ends of the casing, a piston opera lev in the casing, a valve cooperating with said seat for operatively applying iui'd pressure to the piston, a valve carrier pivoted on said closure, a spring positioning member operable by said piston and swingingly mounted on the carrier pivot,a spring connecting said carrier and said positioningmember and tensionably movableby the latter across the pivotal mountingthereof whereby said spring willact to swing said carried and said positioning member in opposite directions',

` .and a stop common to both the valve carrier and the positioning member for limiting-the swinging movement of' sa1dcarrier and said positioning member, said stopv being arranged entire y to one side of' the carrier pivot'and said carrier and positioning a stop, said positioning member and sai carrier each having` a pair of fingers strad dling said stop' for limiting' their swinging movement,'.and means operable by the'piston for alternately engaging the fingers of said positioning member.

8. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a casing part" having a valve seat and an overhanging support extending loutwardly therebeyond, a -valve, a valve carrier pivoted on the lsupport and having a portion underlying the latter to carry the valve, a -positioning member pivoted on the support and operable by a moving part of the motor, a spring connecting the` carrierl l to the positioning member for movement under tension by-the latter to vopposite sides of the carrier'pivot for eecting movement` lof the 'learn-ier, and stop means underlying the valve carrying portionof said carrier and engageable by the latterand also by said positioning member for` limiting their swinging movement, said carrier and posltioning member each having spaced limit lingers straddling said stop means for cooperating therewith in defining the extent of swinging movement of said carrier 'and said positioning member.

9. In a 'fluid pressure motor for ywindshield cleaners, a casing part `having stop means extending therefrom, a valve, a valve moving'member pivotallyfsupported by said casing part and having limit'portions straddling. saidstop means for,y defining the pivotal movement of said member, aA second member pivotallyLA supported by said casin part 'coaxially with said first member an means for defining the pivotal movement of said second member, a spring connecting the 'having limit portions straddling said stop two members and'movable under tension by the second member to opposite sides of the pivot ofthe lirst member for eiecting movement of the valve, said spring exerting opposing vforces onv said two members whereby normally they are urgedin opposite direc-' tions'and one limit portion of one member is engaging the opposite side of the stop m'eansfroni 'that engaged by one of the limit portions ofthe other member, and means for operating-said second member.

10. In a Huid pressure motor for windvshield cleaners, a motor including a casing,

a piston operable in the casing, a gear element fixed-onv said shaft and having an opening therein, said element beingfoperatively connected and driven by .the 'piston for' operating the rock shaft, a'pivot member seico cured to said /casing and projecting freelyf through the opening of said element whereby the lattermay oscillate uninterrupted by said pivot member, and automatic valve mechanism for operatively admittinfr fluid pressure to the motor, said valve mec anism including a lever pivoted on said pivot member, said gear element being 'guidinglyinter-` posed between said casing part and valve mechanism lever, aY second pivotally mounted lever, lafspring connecting the two levers and movable under vtension by one lever to opposite sides of the pivot member for effecting movement of the other lever,

and a' valve operable by the latter lever, said former lever being operable by and during movement of the piston. In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures.

FREDERICK G. FOLBERTH.

WILLIAM M. FOLBERTH.

said

izo

' CERTIFICATE GF CQRRECTION.

Patent No. 1,665,204. Granted April l0, 1928. to

FREDERICK G. FLBERT ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the v above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 97,. claim 3, before the word "limit" insert the article "the"; page 4, line 25, claim 6, for the word "carried" read "carrier", and line 98, after the word "casing" insert the words and comma "a rock shaft journalier! therein, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections vtherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

, Signed and sealed this 15th day of May, lA. l). 192%.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting-Commissioner of Patents. 

